Multicompartment box



J. G. HUYE MULTICOMPARTMENT BOX s Sheets-Shet 1 Filed July 31, .1945

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Oct. 24, 1950 J. G. HUYE MULTICOMPARTMENT BOX Filed July 31 1945 3 Sheets-Shet 2 1 WWHEI'MI ll, I hI-WIII Oct. 24, 1950 J G, HUYE 2,527,221

- MULTICOMPARTMENT BOX Filed July 31, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H E I I v I I Patented Oct. 24, 1950 MULTICOMPARTMENT BOX "T Joseph G. Huye, New Orleans, La.; Charlotte Huye and Merle Huye, legatees, by judgment of possession, of'said Joseph G. Huye, deceased, assignors to Huye Space Saving Box System, Inc., New Orleans, La.

Application July 31, 1945, Serial No. 607,994

' 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to multi-compartment shipping boxes having spacing means for ventilation purposes. 'While the field of primary use now contemplated for the invention is in connection with the shipment of day old chicks from the hatchery to the customer, the invention is not limited to use in this fieldbut will be found useful wherever it is desired to divide a container by partitionmeans and to guard against the sides or ends of the container spreading or bulging or wherever it is desired to carry the weight of superposed boxes in a stack upon some supporting or spacing means or to provide for ventilation of the boxes in superposed relation in the stack.

The primary objects of the invention areto provide a shipping box with spacing supporting means and of great strength to resist the crushing efifect of a heavy load of loaded or filled similar boxes superposed thereon in stacked relation; to provide a construction wherein the composite partitioning means and spacing means will always be properly disposed to receive the top or cover of the box, however the partitioning means may be inserted; to provide quick and positive means for interlocking the spacing posts with the adjacent portions of the respective ends and sides of the box; to provide a flexible juncture between therespective posts and the respective. adjacent portions of the respective partitioning, means whereby the posts will be left free to properly cen ter themselves; to provide a simple positive and reinforcing means for locking the respective posts in erected condition; to provide a special reinforced strong construction for the'supporting and bracing posts to increase their load supporting capacity; to facilitate the easy and quick application of the covers to the bodies of theboxes; to provide means for centering the upper ends of the posts whereby the posts will be held or presented in vertical, or substantially Vertical positions to receive the thrust of the load in a. line coincident with or parallel, or substantially parallel, to their central vertically extending lines to avoid the subjection of such posts to. leverage tending to tilt and twist them such as would be present were they not properly centered; to pro vicle for the centering of the respective posts at the. centers of the respective sides and ends of the respective boxes so that the posts of a given box will be properly centered directly vertically in line with the corresponding centering posts of all other boxes in a given stack assuming said stack to be evened up properly so that throughout the stack the weight will be carried directly by, the posts and not by any intervening portions of the 2 boxes regardless of the possible reversed positions of some of the boxes within the stack or, in other words, so that the respective posts will be vertically in line with the corresponding posts of all of the boxes however the boxes may be stacked so long as the boxes have their sides and ends re lf" spectively fiush with each other; and to reduce the amount of paper board required while obtaming a stronger box.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a chick box embodying my invention;

Figure 2, a top plan view thereof with the cover B removed;

Figure 3, a fragmentary top plan view, on a greatly enlarged scale, of a portion of the box with a spacing and supporting post extending through the cover E;

Figure 4, a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5, a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6, a fragmentary end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3;

Figure 7, a fragmentary sectional view on the line 'l-'! of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8, a fragmentary side elevation of one end portion, in flattened sheet condition, of one of the composite partitioning and spacing members; and

Figure 9, an exploded view of the box body A, box top B and one of the composite partitioning and spacing members.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, A des ignates the box body; B the box top or cover; C the usual ventilating holes or openings in the sides of the body A, the top or cover B and the panels 4 and 8 of the respective spacing and supporting posts, and l the partition elements arranged in intersecting relation to divide the interior of the body A into four compartments with their portions at the point of intersection notched out as at I9 sothat the notch I9 of the one receives the neck of the other in accordance with usual practice. The respective end portions of the respective partition elements, or composite partitioning and spacing and supporting elements I, are creased or scored on fold lines 3, 5, l and 9 defining respectively panels 4 between score lines 3 and 5, 5 between score lines 5 and l, 8 between score lines i and 9, and Hi. between score line 9 and the end; of the element, the saidpanels to be folded along said scorev lines into erected condition wherein they constitute a supporting and panel 4 at the fold or score line 3 and folding along said score line 3 to extend around the bend or knuckle formed by the upper portions of the panels 8 and I as folded along scored line 9 and lying substantially flat against the adjacent upper portion of the exterior of the panel 8 between the notch I6 and the score line I and having a locking tab or leaf l2 foldable along score line I4 to extend through the slot I6 and lie substantially horizontally in the interior of its supporting an spacing post with its heel or tip I8 extending outwardly beyond the adjacent wall of the slot and with the outer edge, or outer side edge, of said heel or tip I8 in engagement with the opposed adjacent inner wall or face of the panel 8 at the base or lower end of the slot I6, thus definitely tying or looking the supporting and spacing post in erected condition until said locking or tying tab or leaf l2 and its heel or tip I8 are folded back out of the slot I6.

The above construction results in a very rigid post due to the strap 2, integral with the panel 4, extending completely around the nose of the post, that is, the corner fold between panels 8 and It), thus forming two nesting knuckles or channel portions.

Also, the score or fold line 3 provides for flexibility between the plane partitionin portion of the element I and the erected spacing and supporting post portions thereof so that the post portion will readily find its center regardless of the way the partition is placed in the box, whether from left to right or from right to left and as disposed in the box body A the plane portion of the partitioning element if extended to the end or side wall, as the case may be, of the body A would divide the post into equal portions, one lying on one side and the other on the other side of such plane partitioning portion. It follows from the foregoing that the composite partitioning and post elements may be quickly and easily applied to or inserted in the body A without any anxiety as tov the proper positioning of the posts toreceive the top B, so that in this respect the construction may be said to be fool-proof.

The lower central portion of each panel 6 is formed with a narrow anchoring slot I I of which the upper end is formed with a central peak and straight downwardly diverging walls l extending from said peak to the tops of the straight side r walls'of said slot II, and the triangular portions left between the respective downwardly diverging walls I5 and imaginary vertical lines extending from the side walls of the slot II and an imaginary horizontal line intersecting said P ak constituting anchoring or look shoulders.

The lower end wall of the slot I I may be horizontal as shown, and this is the preferred construction, though it is not essential and it may be of other form.

The sides and ends of the body A will be provided with pairs of anchoring flanges I3 preferably integral with and cut out on three sides, as to each such flange, from the respective end or side and having the outer portions of their upper ends notched or cut away to form locking toes or fingers H, the length, in a vertical direction, of each of said flanges l3 with their locking toes or fingers I! corresponding to, or being, substantially the same as the greatest vertical length 4 of the slots II, the relationship being such that the flanges I3 will be received by the slots II when the flanges I3 of a given pair of such flanges are gripped and squeezed so that their free inner edges are substantially in contact so that their locking toes or fingers I! are centered with the peak of the corresponding slot I I and such that, after such insertion, when the flanges I3 are released they will spread apart by their natural or inherent resiliency or the resiliency of their fold or hinge connection and, as spread,

'the locking toes or fingers I! will lie behind and engage the locking corners of the panel B and so lock the post to the corresponding part of the box body A.

In the embodiment illustrated a pair of flanges I3 are formed centrally of each side and end of the body A to cooperate with the respective panels 6 of corresponding posts of one longitudinal and one transverse partition to divide the interior of the box into four compartments. However, where a different number of compartments are to be provided, the number of pairs of anchoring flanges I3 and their location will vary in accordance as required by the desired partition arrangement.

The box top B will have the side and end portions of its top panel formed with a plurality of holes to receive the upper end portions of the posts to allow the latter to extend throughsaid top B and to a point above the same to support a superposed box in spaced relation to the top B, as shown in Figures 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9, said holes corresponding in number and location to the number and location of said posts.

The material of the top panel of the top or cover B adjacent each side of said holes will be in the form of flaps 20 out along lines 2| at each end from said top panel and connected with the same along their side distant from their respective holes to provide yieldable flaps to facilitate the placing of the top or cover B on the body A over the ends of the spacing and supporting posts and for finally centering the posts in vertical position and aiding in retaining the top or cover on the body A. With the top B in approximately correct or centered position on or with relation to the body A it may be pressed toward the latter and, even if not properly centered a little pressure on it toward body A will cause the flaps 26 to yield and act as guides for the posts which will be guided to and pass through the holes in the top or cover B, allowing the latter to fit down on the upper edge of the body A, with the upper part of the body A received in the skirt or flange or the top or cover B and the body A and top B properly centered with relation to each other. If, at such time, any of the flaps 20 remain slightly raised, a slight pat or pressure on them will cause them to lie flat and, their free edges, engaging the sides of the posts, will definitely force the upper end portions of the respective posts to proper centered position.

It is contemplated that all parts or elements of the boxes of this invention will be of material of inherent at least mildly resilient material such as paperboard or pasteboard, though this is not essential so long as provision is made for folding or bending and for resiliency of the parts or at the points as required by the foregoing.

Also, it is preferred that the composite partitioning and spacing or supporting elements I each shall be constituted of a single integral piece of material, preferably of a sheet of pasteboard or paperboard, though this is not essential.

Also, it is preferred that the anchor flanges I 3 shall be integral with the body A and that the locking toes or fingers I! shall be integral with the respective anchor flanges l3, through, as to each item, this is not essential.

Also, it is preferred that the guiding and centering flaps 29 of the top or cover B shall be integral therewith, though this is not essential.

Both the top or cover B and body A may be of any usual known type of box construction, though preferably they will be of a collapsible kn0ckdown set-up construction so that they may be stored and shipped in flat condition and may be erected to operative condition or may be collapsed to flattened condition to be returned to the shipper for re-use. Preferably they will be of an interlocking corner construction of the general type shown in my Patent No. 2,193,925, granted March 19, 1940.

This invention relates to the same general field of invention as disclosed in my application Ser. No. 583,425, filed March 19, 1945, now Patent No. 2,450,801 dated October 5, 1948, for Composite Partitioning and Spacing Element and Combination Thereof with a Container.

I claim:

1. A box body formed with opposed pairs of anchor flanges, said flanges being resiliently connected with said box body and each said flange being formed with an anchoring toe, in combination with a partitioning and spacing element having end portions formed with slots to respectively receive said pairs of anchor flanges, the upper end walls of each of said slots diverging from a common peak point to the top of the side walls of said slot to leave anchor corners, and said flanges corresponding in length to the greatest length of said slots and the flanges of each pair being compressible together to pass through the respective slots and spreading on re- I lease by their inherent resiliency so that said anchor toes pass behind the respective anchor corners and definitely anchor said end portions of said element in place in said box body.

2. A box body, and a partitioning and spacing element having supporting posts extending from the upper face of the bottom of said body to a point above the plane of the upper edge of said body, said body and the said supporting posts being formed to have interlocking engagement, in combination with a cover having a plane top portion and .a flange depending therefrom to receive the upper portions of the walls of said body, said cover having its plane top portion formed with a plurality of openings of such size, shape and locations as to respectively snugly receive the upper portions of said supporting posts, the material of said top plane portion being cut through at each side of each of said openings to form guiding and centering means facilitating the original application of the cover to the body and thereafter abutting against opposite sides of the upper ends of the respective posts to center same and present them in their most efficient load supporting positions.

3. A box body and a partitioning and spacing element having supporting posts extending from means carried by said plane top portion for guid- 1 ing and centering the respective posts with relation to the respective openings to facilitate the original application of the cover to the body and thereafter abutting against opposite sides of said respective posts to center the upper ends of the respective posts after such application of the cover to present said posts in their most efficient load supporting positions.

4. A box body, and a partitioning and spacing element having supporting posts extending from the upper face of the bottom of said body to a point, above the plane of the upper edge of said body, in combination with a cover having a plane top portion and a flange depending therefrom to receive the upper portion of said body, said cover having its plane top portion formed with a plurality of openings of such size, shape and locations as to respectively snugly receive the upper portions of said supporting posts, and yieldable means carried by said cover for guiding and centering. the respective posts with relation to the respective openings to facilitate the application of the cover to the body and thereafter abutting against opposite sides of said respective posts to center the upper ends of the respective posts after such application of the cover.

JOSEPH G. HUYE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 814,069 Naylor Mar. 6, 1906 1,704,948 Maston Mar. 12, 1929 2,074,090 Loth Mar. 16, 1937 2,077,588 Schaefer Apr. 20, 1937 2,190,399 Burnham Feb. 13, 1940 2,273,390 Warren Feb. 17, 1942 2,299,812 Ferguson Oct. 27, 1942 2,319,924 Ferguson May 25, 1943 2,409,701 Loth Oct. 22, 1946 

